The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has delivered a pivotal ruling reaffirming Equatorial Guinea's sovereignty over three contested islands, igniting a fresh chapter in the longstanding maritime dispute with Gabon.
UN Court Rules in Favor of Equatorial Guinea in Oil-Dispute with Gabon
UN Court Rules in Favor of Equatorial Guinea in Oil-Dispute with Gabon
The International Court of Justice confirms Equatorial Guinea's claim to three disputed islands, impacting regional oil exploration efforts.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in a significant maritime dispute with neighboring Gabon regarding the sovereignty of three small islands—Conga, Mbanié, and Cocoteros—located in waters rich with oil reserves. The conflict dates back to the 1970s, but the court's recent decision, made at its headquarters in The Hague, has provided clarity on the islands' ownership.
Equatorial Guinea's claim is anchored in a treaty dating from 1900 that delineated the colonial territories of France and Spain. The ICJ dismissed Gabon's assertions that a more recent treaty, the 1974 Bata convention, altered ownership in its favor. According to the court's judgment, the islands originally belonged to Spain and were subsequently bequeathed to Equatorial Guinea upon its independence in 1968.
As part of the ruling, Gabon is now compelled to withdraw its military presence from Mbanié, the largest of the three islands, which it occupied following a military incursion in 1972. The dispute had seen periods of tension, but the discovery of potential oil reserves in the Gulf of Guinea reignited the urgency to resolve the matter.
After years of diplomatic engagement facilitated by the United Nations, both nations agreed to let the ICJ arbitrarily settle their disagreement in 2016. The ruling stands to significantly impact future economic activities and regional relationships, as Equatorial Guinea seeks to exercise its rights over these territories—key in the exploration and exploitation of offshore oil resources.
With this ruling, the ICJ has not only resolved a long-standing territorial argument but also set the stage for future negotiations surrounding the region's wealth in hydrocarbon resources.
Equatorial Guinea's claim is anchored in a treaty dating from 1900 that delineated the colonial territories of France and Spain. The ICJ dismissed Gabon's assertions that a more recent treaty, the 1974 Bata convention, altered ownership in its favor. According to the court's judgment, the islands originally belonged to Spain and were subsequently bequeathed to Equatorial Guinea upon its independence in 1968.
As part of the ruling, Gabon is now compelled to withdraw its military presence from Mbanié, the largest of the three islands, which it occupied following a military incursion in 1972. The dispute had seen periods of tension, but the discovery of potential oil reserves in the Gulf of Guinea reignited the urgency to resolve the matter.
After years of diplomatic engagement facilitated by the United Nations, both nations agreed to let the ICJ arbitrarily settle their disagreement in 2016. The ruling stands to significantly impact future economic activities and regional relationships, as Equatorial Guinea seeks to exercise its rights over these territories—key in the exploration and exploitation of offshore oil resources.
With this ruling, the ICJ has not only resolved a long-standing territorial argument but also set the stage for future negotiations surrounding the region's wealth in hydrocarbon resources.
